Reclaiming the purpose of the holiday in my life

This year I have found myself more stressed and anxious about the shopping of the gifts for people and that they appreciate the gift and the value of such item. I have added to my chronic insomnia on the angst of the holiday and its apparent mandatory requirements of socializing whether with friends, peers or family.

The purpose of the holiday of Christmas was the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through time and (lets be frank here) the wickedness of the human heart, it has been mutated into a holiday of gift giving (and receiving – can’t forget that part). Its been turned into reasons for eating too much, drinking too much and cajoling around by many. The periods of such activities and socializing taking up for some many hours. The dollars spent varying but often the spending really becoming the accumulation of further debt.

Again, the purpose of the holiday of Christmas was the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know, their is the spiritual aspect of the holiday and the secular aspect. Truth is (at least for me) the pressures and preparations for the fulfilling of all expectations of others for the secular aspect has overwhelmed my psychological, physical and sad to say spiritual health as to fully appreciate and endeavor into the spiritual aspect of the holiday. Does that make sense? Let me put it another way, I am drained, exhausted and have increased my angst.

Again (to self), the purpose of the holiday of Christmas was the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I got to make my appreciation and recognition of the importance and value of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ my top priority. I need to push away the secular tentacles and mass of space and reestablish healthy and correct boundaries of my mind, heart, spirit and life. He has to be the priority. I have to undo 49 years of wrong-programming and actions. I honestly have to ask God for forgiveness for 48 years of wrong practices and priorities. I have to reclaim the purpose of the holiday in my life.

“My heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Your only begotten Son – the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, I am sorry for getting swept up in self and secularization of the holiday of Christmas. I am sorry for having and practicing the wrong priorities year after year surrounding this holiday which is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Your only begotten Son so that He would live the life of a man, a human being and that He would obey and fulfill all the prophecies of His existence and purpose so that He could and would make the atonement for my sins and all those sins of people who believe and trust in Him, His name and His finished work on the cross made complete through His resurrection. God thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to Earth so that I could be saved from an eternity in the Lake of Fire. Thank You for allowing me to be forgiven of my sins. Thank You for all that I receive in the fact of my salvation. Thank You for caring that much for me and the all the human race. Thank You Father. Now please help me to make the Lord Jesus Christ first in my life not only in the holiday season but everyday of my existence. Help me to be a light of Your love in this world and my world. Amen”